Apple hit big this week with a series of major announcements regarding its Mac line of computers. On the menu: new models of iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro, all equipped with the latest generation of in-house chips, the M4. A look back at the main new features.
M4 and Apple Intelligence on the program
The M4 chip, the true spearhead of this new generation of Mac, brings its share of improvements in terms of raw power, energy efficiency and machine learning capabilities. Engraved in 3 nm by TSMC, it integrates up to 40 billion transistors, or 20% more than the M3 chip. With up to 18 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores, it promises substantial performance gains compared to the previous generation, while maintaining low power consumption.
But the real novelty lies in the advanced integration of artificial intelligence technologies, with a 32-core Neural Engine capable of reaching 22 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), and the presence of a dedicated module called “Apple Intelligence Processor”. The latter, a first on a computer SoC, is specifically designed to accelerate machine learning tasks and paves the way for innovative new features. With this M4 chip, Apple is laying the foundations for a new era for its Mac computers, where AI becomes an integral part of the user experience.
The iMac upgrades to the M4 and gets a facelift
The iMac M4 was the first to get the ball rolling on Monday. This new 24-inch model now features the M4 chip, which promises up to 1.7x better performance for everyday productivity tasks and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing or gaming.
Among other notable improvements:
- 16 GB of RAM as standard (double the previous base configuration)
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports on high-end models (up from two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- New shimmering color options
- Optional nano-textured screen treatment to reduce reflections
- Peripherals (Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard) move to USB-C
The new iMac M4s are available from €1,499, with availability scheduled from November 8.
The Mac mini gets a makeover with the M4 and M4 Pro
The next day, it was the Mac mini M4’s turn to play. In addition to a new, much more compact design (with the power button which is the subject of debate), Apple’s small desktop computer is equipped with the M4 and M4 Pro chips, with up to 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores on the Pro model.
Other notable new features:
- Up to 64 GB of unified memory on the M4 Pro model
- Two USB-C ports on the front and three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back (on the M4 Pro version)
- Up to 2x better graphics performance than M1 with M4 Pro
- Apple’s first carbon-neutral Mac
The new Mac mini starts at just €699 with the M4 chip, making it the most affordable Mac in the range. Pre-orders are open, for availability again from November 8.
MacBook Pros are gaining momentum with the M4 Pro and Max
Finally, on Wednesday, Apple lifted the veil on the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, as well as a new entry-level 14-inch model equipped with the M4.
The latter delivers up to 1.8x faster performance than the 13-inch with M1 for tasks like gigapixel photo editing, and up to 3.4x faster for demanding workloads like 3D rendering. It also promises record battery life of up to 24 hours, never before seen on a Mac.
The M4 Pro and M4 Max models are not left out, with performance jumps of up to 3x and 3.5x respectively compared to previous generation chips. They also benefit from several notable improvements:
- Three ultra-fast Thunderbolt 5 ports (up to 120 Gbps)
- An improved Liquid Retina XDR display with nano-textured glass option
- A 12MP camera with Desktop mode support for video conferencing
- Monstrous battery life of up to 24 hours on the 16-inch with M4 Pro
The new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros are available to order now, starting at €1,899, for delivery and in-store availability from November 8.
With these cascading announcements, Apple clearly demonstrates its ambition to deploy its new M4 architecture across its entire range, from consumer machines to mobile workstations for professionals. Enough to offer a welcome boost in terms of performance and functionalities, while pushing further the integration of artificial intelligence made in Cupertino.